Everything you need to know about the Spurs beating the Celtics 120-111 in BSJ Quickie Form
Box Score
HEADLINES
Celtics fall apart in third quarter: After putting together a solid opening 24 minutes in an arena they haven’t won since 2011, the Celtics fell apart in the third period against a relentless Spurs offense. San Antonio shot 76 percent during the frame thanks to big outings from LaMarcus Aldridge (32 points) and Derrick White (career-high 22 points) to post the most points by a Boston opponent in a quarter (46) since 2000. The Celtics were never able to get stops the rest of the way consistently (74 second half points for Spurs) which enabled to hosts to ride comfortably to the win despite a season-high 30 points from Jaylen Brown.
Ugly finish to trip: The good vibes of a 19-point comeback in Memphis largely went away after this one. San Antonio is playing elite basketball lately but that does not excuse the fact that the C’s blew a 12-point lead in this one in the first half. They showed none of the fight we saw in the second half against the Grizzlies and made all sorts of defensive mistakes to magnify those woes. 11 of their next 15 games will come at the TD Garden, so it will be on this group to find some consistency to keep themselves from falling further out of the top half of the East playoff picture.
TURNING POINT
The Spurs went on a 21-2 run in less than four minutes midway through the third quarter as the Celtics were helpless stopping dribble penetration. The outburst forced the C’s to play catch up for the final 18 minutes.
TWO UP
Jaylen Brown: Amid an underwhelming start to the year, Jaylen Brown showed shades of the force we saw last season with his best offensive performance of the year. He hit his career-high early in the fourth quarter on his way to 30 points and used his quickness to get to the rim past Spurs defenders all night long. It was a nice end to December after what was a rough month overall
Terry Rozier: The reserve guard sunk his first four shots from 3-point range on the night, which helped keep the Celtics in the game amid a 46-point third quarter by the Spurs. He still is having some trouble with shot selection (missed four from inside the arc on mostly tough shots) but his catch-and-shoot came from the perimeter remains a strength.
TWO DOWN
Gordon Hayward: The swingman went scoreless on the night and missed his five 3-point attempts in the midst of a 3-of-17 slump from beyond the arc over the past five games. He has scored double digits in just one of his last five games as his offensive progression has been stunted for the most part since a breakout performance in Minnesota.
Celtics’ third quarter defense: Boston allowed San Antonio to match their first-half total with 46 points in the third quarter, the most allowed in a quarter by the franchise since 2000. The hosts shot 76 percent in the frame (19-of-24 FG), turning a six-point halftime deficit in a double-digit lead as the C’s played lifeless defense for the entire frame.
TOP PLAY
??? pic.twitter.com/DUVdZFALu9
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 1, 2019
